With time to contemplate life, some ponderings from the road.

Have all the stuff you need for an evening stop in one box, bag, whatever, not scattered in 5 places.

Call to make campground reservations around noon the same day.

Wondering about batteries as Bill warned. 29-31F the past few nights and no issues starting, but she drops to 5 volts when starting...

V10 really struggles at 7500' plus. The back road to Capital Reef Part hit 8900 and I had to drop to 1st gear to keep above 2000rpm. 3.73's and 315's aren't helping. I'm guessing the trailer weighs 1200 and I've been I have 1200 packed inside plus another 800 to 1000 in the EX. None of this will be an issue in IL, just pondering.

The swinging Trailer tongue has developed a sag. Not much of a SAG but as I look at it the bushings they seem good and everything is tight but there is a rubber bumper that keeps it straight on the top and bottom of the pivot. The upper Rubber bumper is nearly disintegrated After a week.

1700 miles and I've added through 3 quarts of oil. Normally she uses 1 quart every 800 to 1000 miles. 9.2mpg. Normally she uses 5w – 20 oil but I've been adding whatever I had laying around the house to use it up; lots of 5W-30.

I started out at 55 miles an hour in California. Especially in Northern California where the roads are Winding. But as I get to Utah and Nevada Straiht, flat roads I've been up to 60 then 65 and then 70, but only on straight and flat roads. In the hills and curves I'm back down to 55.

No issues with brakes, every time I stop I feel for hot rims. Need to tighten one side of the trailer, its consistently cooler than the other. Trailer tracks true, though the shocks may be done by the time I get to IL.

Ex shocks are adj, Ranchos. Will try moving them from 5 to 9 and see if that makes any difference. Lots of porpoising in the front.

Finally, y'all know I lock 'em up and burn a u when I see a roadside attraction like Carl's- complete with zen philosophies.

Each major piece had a note to ponder. I may have a new hobby... oh Dummy, need help with the merc.

 

And there's a Hanksville-inspired moniker for your Rocinante!

Namaste!

Pop

 

I'll find a way to add that gesture to the Trailer Pop. Namaste back atcha.

 

Somebody is a fan of The Expanse!

Or Don Quixote.

Stewart

 

Or Hemingway.

Pop

 

Howdy all from that Rocky Mtn high.

 

Dropping to 34* in Pueblo tonight.

A few degrees warmer overnight than the last couple.

High '50's in Dodge tomorrow.

Take your time across Kansas, and you won't catch any precip.

Pop

 

Happy Trails to You. Until we meet again.

Jim

 

Thx Jim, whew what a day.

Got tired of the traffic on US50, so hit the back, way back roads, like they did 100 yrs ago.

Thrilled to visit an NPS site that's not fully commercialized. Though they had a gift shop

Sad remembrance of a long ago massacre (wait, not so different from the tragedy at Lost Wages?)

This trip has been a great reminder of what a great country we still have.

 

No doubt she's still a beaut'.
Which roads did you take over the hills Sean? I see Monarch pass but can't remember where that is.

 

Been staying mostly on US 50. There's a lot to see across the USA.

 

Oh I see now.
Jeez I was just out in those parts this summer.
If people got out in the country more instead of sitting in front of TV's and computers ..............oh never mind. We know.

 

Will see Harry's Prez Library tomorrow. I've found Independence. MO pics tomorrow.

 

I need to compose all my thoughts to summarize in a post, but after talking to a few folks who live at KOA's across this country, the US feels more Steinbecks' Grapes of Wrath, than I want to imagine.

 

There's two kinds of "full-timers". Some are in an '89 Winnebago, some are in last year's Prevost.

There seems to be a lot more of one kind than the other.

Dorothea Lange's classic capture will be tough to beat, Sean.





Those of us on this forum are so blessed.

Pop